Ukraine scores own goal as Euro debacle looms
歐洲盃足球賽災難降臨 烏克蘭自踢烏龍球

A pub promotes the Euro 2012 soccer tournament in London, Britain on May 29.這張五月二十九日攝於倫敦的照片，是一間推銷二○一二歐洲盃足球賽的酒吧。

Photo: EPA照片：歐新社

Ukraine failed to anticipate the angry Western reaction to its treatment of jailed ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko and the dispute risks ruining its hosting of the Euro 2012 soccer championship, observers said.

The Euro 2012 tournament co-hosted with Poland was set to be a glorious showcase for the ex-Soviet country, but President Viktor Yanukovych appears to have scored a massive own goal by allowing it to be overshadowed by the Tymoshenko case.

Austria has announced it will boycott all matches hosted by Ukraine, a move that reportedly could be matched by Germany. All EU commissioners will also be absent, while at least seven EU heads of state are shunning a summit to be hosted by Yanukovych in Yalta this month.

Tymoshenko, who was jailed for seven years on charges of abuse of power in October, upped the stakes in her standoff with the authorities last month by going on hunger strike and claiming she had been beaten by prison guards.

With an efficient PR machine fronted by the opposition leader’s telegenic, London School of Economics-educated daughter Yevgeniya, the Western reaction led by Germany has been tough, and it clearly caught the Yanukovych government off guard.

“No one expected that Germany would kick up such a fuss,”said a Ukrainian source close to the presidency, admitting that the administration had not drawn up any response to the crisis.